Stalking the Fellowship

Chapter Forty four: A woman scorned

They were now at the first ring of Minas Tirith, outside the area that had once held the gate that was knocked down. The men were lined up in rank, ready to go whilst Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and company were just inside the city walls, conversing.

"Be good Pip," Maddy smiled, pulling the shocked hobbit into a hug.

"Ok?" he offered rather meekly as his lungs were being crushed.

"Madeleine?" Maddy looked up at Aragorn, who was looking at her oddly.

"What?" she asked chirpily.

"He wants to know if he gets a hug too!" Francesca replied cheekily.

"No it was not," the ranger replied, mouth twitching.

"Oh well, you're getting one anyway," Maddy announced, awkwardly pulling Aragorn into a hug, all the while avoiding swords and other large pointy objects."

Pulling away she grinned before walking off back to her rooms sending a solitary, "Namarie! Good luck."

Fran quirked an eyebrow at Maddy's abrupt departure but continued her goodbyes, generally cracking jokes to alleviate the growing tension.

.-.-.-.

"So…why'd you leave like that?" Mo questioned, sitting on a chair in Maddy's room.

"I hugged Pippin and then Aragorn," Maddy offered as a response, picking at her duvet.

"And?" Fran questioned, grinning.

"Well that would invariably have lead to me having to hug all of them. Including Legolas."

"I would have thought that that was what you wanted."

"Well, yes. It's just that I don't think I would of, uhm, let him go."

Mo and Francesca promptly fell into fits of laughter only stopping when the stitches in their sides were just too much to handle.

"You're so funny, you do know that." Fran announced before bursting into a fit of giggles.

.-.-.-.

The sun had barely begun to bruise the dark sky but three girls stood at the gates with the three girls that were about to leave. Mo was talking animatedly to Elladan who was grinning in reply. Maddy was having an 'intellectual' conversation with Elrohir who was inquiring as to where she had learnt Sindarin.

"Oh, I taught myself."

"Taught yourself?" he echoed, "How did you do that?"

"Well, I had a dictionary and I just learnt the words, I don't know the whole language or anything, just useful stuff, and my pronunciation is probably terrible."

"You spoke well yesterday."

Maddy blushed, "Thank you."

"I will miss you." Said Elladan to Mo who was looking nonplussed.

"And I'll miss you to," she replied sardonically.

Elladan grinned, "We had better be leaving brother, otherwise we shall never catch up with Aragorn."

Elrohir nodded and mounted his horse. He then conducted a short conversation in Sindarin with his twin before spurring his horse into a trot.

"Namarie." Elladan said to Mo before swiftly grabbing her, kissing her chastely on the lips before mounting his horse and cantering off after Elrohir.

"BASTARD!" Mo shouted after him, getting many startled looks from those that were up and around in the early morning. "I can't believe he just did that." Mo seethed, her narrowed eyes watching as he disappeared from sight.

"Did that really just happen?" Fran questioned, a huge grin plastered across her face.

"I do believe it did," answered Maddy, "Elladan and Mo sitting in a-"

"Shut up. The pair of you! Stupid Elf with his stupid feelings. To the depths of Mordor with them all. Argh!" She stomped off.

"Well…I do believe Elladan has just made my day," Fran eventually managed, still watching Mo as she speedily departed.

"Come, let's see what she's going to do about this one." Said Maddy in an excited tone, "especially as he isn't her for her to vent at."

A quarter of an hour later they found Mo shouting at Eowyn who was replying just as fiercely out of her window.

"So you've finally found someone to replace Aragorn then? Or have you suddenly realised that YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM!" Mo shouted at the window.

"Well at least I've got someone! Unlike you, you stupid excuse for a girl, hiding back at the boats, I didn't see you fighting for your life. You didn't deserve to brought along with them. You should have been left at Edoras where you could sew and simper. That's all you are good for."

"Oh yeah? Well then come down here and I will squash you like a bug."

"Really? From what I have seen you fight like a little girl."

"That's exactly what I am," came Mo's reply, "And all these people can watch as you get beaten by a little girl. And they'll remember it, after all, how often do you get to see a blonde orc?"

"Why you…" Eowyn's anger has apparently taking precedence over forming words.

In the background the voice of Fran could be heard chanting, "Go Mo, get your groove on." Whilst Maddy slowly backed away as she saw the door to the houses of healing open.

"Haven't I told you to go away before? The Lady needs her rest and you are disturbing it." The head healer was nearly puce.

"What's this? Eowyn, do you hide behind a healer?" Mo said, her laughter ringing around the silent streets.

Just then a bucket of freezing ice cold water landed on Mo's head, making her hair stick to her scalp and neck. "YOU BITCH! She screamed as she pulled an arrow form her quiver, quickly taking aim. Unfortunately Eowyn had predicted Mo's violent tendencies and quickly closed her shutters meaning the arrow embedded itself in the wood.

The healer let out a howl of rage as Mo took another arrow from her quiver. In her rush she clumsily lost grip on her bow and it fell to the floor. But Mo was not yet defeated, her anger would not allow it, with the healer still coming at her she brandished her arrow. "Right you. Listen and listen good. I am in no mood for this, tempt me and this will pierce you. We are going to see our friend Merry, the hobbit. And you will let us pass. If not, I shall make sure Aragorn banishes you on his return. You can rot and die for all I care. Got that?"

Without waiting for a reply she pushed past the shocked healer and stomped off, making a beeline for Merry's room.

"Oh dear," said Maddy, "Look what she did, an angry healer is not a good thing, what if we get sick?" She glared at Fran who was still laughing, " and just what is so funny?"

"Mads! Don't you see? The look on that healers face. I do just think we got our pass into the houses of healing." Fran's voice was filled with excitement.

"So we have…" Maddy muttered dubiously, not quite sure what mischief this could lead to.